News Editor

Saint Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.” This message rings true in all Four Pillars at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy.

We give ourselves to Christ through Faith so that we receive eternal life.

We give our best efforts to scholarship so that we can improve our community and world.

We give our talents through Leadership to earn respect and responsibility.

We give our time to service so that we may receive the joy of making a difference.

When you give to Saint Joseph’s, you help assure that local students and their families can receive the unique benefits of Catholic education. You make an even bigger impact when these faithful young men and women go on to make a difference in their churches, communities and the world.

As the winter athletic season goes on, the Wolves continue to succeed, earning victories through hard work both on and off the field. However, the Wolves still need your support this Christmas season. Everyone is invited to join the basketball teams for their Christmas showcases, which will be held on December 28 and 29. Remember to also come out and support the Wolves as they continue to compete throughout the winter. Keep reading to learn more about the Wolves’ recent successes.

Boys Basketball

The boys were victorious in their game against Harrisburg Academy! The Wolves won 73-46. Leading scorers were Brendan Scanlon with 18 points, Jack Mangene with 17 points and Zane Thornburg with 12 points.

The boys are back in action today at 6:00 p.m. in an away game at Penns Valley. Come out and support them as they take on the Rams!

The boys also have several games scheduled over the Christmas break; they would love to see you at their upcoming holiday games!

December 21

vs. Belleville Mennonite

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

December 28 – 29

Christmas Showcase

Start Time: 10:00 a.m.

January 2

Glendale

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball

The girls also took home a win against Harrisburg Academy. Top scorers were Selena Mann with 14 points, Denaya Poston-Cooper with 13 points and Michaela Maynard with 8 points.

The girls are back on the court tonight at 6:00 p.m. in an away game at Saint John Neumann. Come out and cheer them on!

Remember to also support the girls during their upcoming Christmas break games:

December 21

vs. Belleville Mennonite

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

December 28 – 29

Christmas Showcase

December 28 Start Time: 1:30 p.m.

December 29 Start Time: 12:30 p.m.

January 2

Glendale

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

Wrestling

The boys competed at the Panther Holiday over the weekend and came in second place as a team! Kolby Franklin (2nd) and Tyler Stoltzfus (1st) also placed as individuals. Congratulations to the entire team!

The boys are back in action on December 28 at the Powerade Tournament in Pittsburgh.

As always, please reach out to Mr. Walsh (cwalsh@stjoeacad.org) if you have any comments, questions or concerns.

When the doors of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy officially opened in 2011, Kathleen and Kerry Kocher were among the first people eager to walk through them.

Kathleen had grown up receiving a Catholic education, as had the couple’s three daughters, Kelsey, Kaitie, and Kenzie Kocher.

All three girls had attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic School; however, when it came time for Kelsey, the eldest daughter, to go into ninth grade, there was no Catholic high school option presently available in State College, PA. Instead, Kelsey began attending public high school – at the same time that the vision of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy was beginning to take shape, and the Kochers were soon enthusiastic about having their next two daughters continue their catholic education at SJCA.

“We wanted them to attend SJCA, partly for the continuation of the experience they had at Our Lady of Victory,” said Kathleen. “The ethics, the inclusion of religion, the level of education, and the small class size are all things I felt were important. I think Kelsey got a good education in her public high school experience. However [at SJCA], I see much more personal attention, much more care and involvement of the teachers and especially the guidance staff.”

“I can’t sing the praises enough of Mrs. Kozak who did guidance up until this year,” continued Kathleen. “She helped with guidance and gave advice to Kelsey when Kelsey was in high school even though she was at a public high school and had nothing to do with SJCA. We were having questions when Kelsey was applying to college; having someone step out of their comfort zone and help even when it wasn’t going to have any benefit to SJCA was the first exposure I had to the school – someone wanting to help out our kid.”

With such an encouraging first exposure to Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, the Kochers knew it was the right fit for their next two daughters. Kaitie attended from 2012 to 2016, and Kenzie is now in her senior year at the school, where both have enjoyed different but equally positive experiences.

“My middle daughter was involved in sports at SJCA; My youngest isn’t because she’s involved in intensive sports outside of the high school level,” said Kathleen, referring to Kenzie’s heavy involvement with competitive gymnastics. “When my middle daughter was at SJCA, she was involved in sports and musicals, and the energy and the excitement that the school had for those was great.

“For Kenzie, her experience was different,” continued Kathleen of Kenzie, who competes as part of the Nittany Gymnastics Academy. “They were very good at working with me. Kenzie experienced some injuries in gymnastics; she had one ankle reconstructed, but SJCA was flexible and worked with her to allow her to continue to achieve success despite the injuries. She didn’t get lost or left behind, so I was grateful for that!”

Above all else at the school, Kathleen is most grateful for the education and faith-based environment that Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy provides.

“It’s very important to be proud of your faith and to be in an environment where you can be comfortable expressing that as part of who you are and not feeling judged or belittled for having faith,” said Kathleen. “They are able to have that at SJCA.”

Q&A with Kenzie Kocher

Q: What do you like most about attending Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy?

Kenzie: My favorite thing about SJCA is the community vibe; everyone knows each other. I also get a lot of attention from my teachers, and I feel safe reaching out to them when I need help.

Q: What does getting a Catholic education mean to you?

Kenzie: Receiving a Catholic education means that while I am learning about all the basic necessities that I need to know in life, I am also getting closer to God and learning more about my faith every single day.

Q: What activities do you participate in?

Kenzie: At school, I participate in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I also altar serve during some of the masses. I am currently a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Outside of school, I do gymnastics from 4-8:30 p.m., so it pretty much takes up my free time. My freshman and junior year I did art club. My sophomore year I did service club and sophomore and junior year I was an ambassador.

Q: What are your future aspirations?

Kenzie: I want to go to college and major in some sort of health field, possibly physical therapy. Currently, my top three schools are University of Tennessee, Penn State, and Slippery Rock University.

Q: What advice do you have for future Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy students?

Kenzie: My advice for future students of SJCA is to reach out to the upperclassmen and ask for words of wisdom and encouragement.

The winter athletic season is now in full swing! Give the Wolves the gift of your support this holiday season and come out to cheer for them. Keep reading for updates on the Wolves’ recent competitions and to learn how you can support student athletes this winter!

Message from the PAC

Did you know there is a way to get involved in SJCA athletics as a parent?

The Parent Athletic Committee is a fun, easy way for you to help your son or daughter’s team and all of the athletes at SJCA. This growing group of parents meets once a month, has members that represent each sport and is open to anyone who wants to participate. PAC organizes special events and volunteering opportunities and raises money for all of the athletic programs. If you are interested in participating in this group, please feel free to come to one of the meetings, which occur on the second Thursday of every month from 6:30-7:30pm (the next meeting is on December 13 in room 204).

Finally, if you have any questions about the PAC’s initiatives in support of our athletic programs, please email us at PAC@stjoeacad.org

Boys Basketball

The boys kicked off their season last Friday against defending 2A champions Bishop Guilfoyle. While both teams fought hard, they fell short. The varsity team was led by RJ Marsh with 13 points and Brendan Scanlon with 11 points.

Both the varsity and junior varsity teams had a quick turnaround, as they travelled to Saint John Neumann on Saturday. The junior varsity team played a tight game against Neuman, but could not quite pull off a win. Varsity got into the win column after coming back from a 21-5 deficit to win 67-60. The Wolves were led by RJ Marsh with 29 points! On Monday, the boys were back at home looking for revenge against defending 1A champions Bishop Carroll. The junior varsity team fell short, but the varsity team achieved a 75-65 in overtime thanks to a game-tying three from Zane Thornburg with 3.3 seconds left. The Wolves were led by Jack Mangene with 26 points while going 12-13 from the free throw line.

The boys will be back in action on Wednesday at Ridgeway. Junior varsity starts at 6:00 p.m. and varsity will follow. On Saturday, they will come back home to play Harrisburg Academy. Junior varsity starts at 1:30 p.m. and varsity will follow. Wish the boys good luck!

Girls Basketball

The girls kicked off their season last Friday against a tough Jersey Shore team, losing 58-52. The junior varsity team won their first game in program history with a score of 30-21. The junior varsity squad was led by Emma Mallison with 8 points, as well as Brynn Hershbine and Camryn Eby with 6.

On Tuesday, the team bounced back against West Branch, winning 47-41. The team was led by Selena Mann with 22 points and Denaya Poston-Cooper with 9. They continue their season on Saturday, tipping off against Harrisburg Academy at noon at home. Let’s wish them good luck!

Wrestling

Over the weekend, the wrestling team traveled to the Iron Man Tournament. While all the wrestlers fought hard, the two place winners were Kolby Franklin (7th) and Tyler Stoltzfus (8th). Don’t forget to wish good luck to them as they head to the Panther Holiday Classic this weekend!

As always, please reach out to Mr. Walsh ( cwalsh@stjoeacad.org) if you have any comments, questions or concerns.

Students are spreading Christmas cheer during this holy season with holiday service projects. Service is one of SJCA’s four pillars, and students strive to make a positive difference in school, at home, in their communities and in the world.

As the school community celebrates Advent, students will participate in Christmas caroling and bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and will assemble Christmas stockings to send to Centre Safe. Students donated personal care items to stuff the stockings, which will benefit victims of domestic violence.

SJCA is proud to have students that put the Four Pillars into action by serving their communities with generosity.

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy was recently featured on Proclaim!, the diocese’s TV show. Father Jonathan Dickson and the students shared what weekly, all-school Mass means to them and the students explained how the new initiative has helped them grow in their faith. “Mass is foundational to the community here,” Father Dickson noted. The students certainly agree, “I have grown in my faith so much after coming here,” senior Anna Aiello said, “before, I wasn’t a regular at Mass, but now I am, and I love it… It’s because of this experience right here.”

The Wolf Pack Ambassadors also took time to tell the viewers of Proclaim! why they love SJCA and how they’ve developed leadership skills at school. Ambassador Emma Mallison described why SJCA is such a special and unique place, “this community is so welcoming, and it’s like a family,” she said, “when you come here, you feel that you’re at home and everyone here cares about you, which I think is really special.”

No matter the individual or the school, the high school years can be challenging. That’s why when it came time for Ray and Peggy Marsh to send their two children, RJ and Clare Marsh, to high school, they knew they wanted to do what they could to better set them up for success.

“RJ and Clare went to the public schools through middle school, where they got a great education and made good friends,” said Peggy, who grew up attending Catholic schools. “But as high school was approaching, my husband and I liked the idea of a smaller school where learning more about their faith would be part of the everyday experience.”

Now, four years later, RJ is a senior at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Clare is in her sophomore year and Ray and Peggy are grateful for the impact that they have seen the school have on both of their children.

“I think they’ve grown a lot. With the smaller classrooms and the high expectations, they’ve been thriving,” said Peggy.

At SJCA, Clare and RJ have been able to participate in a number of sports and activities spanning their varied interests, and Peggy further credits those extracurriculars with the growth she has seen in her kids.

“RJ’s the captain of the basketball team this year,” said Peggy of her son, who is also a part of the school’s golf team. “We feel like he’s been able to grow as a player and as a person in a balanced atmosphere and still have good competitive sports.

“Clare participates in soccer, basketball, and track,” continued Peggy. “She likes to compete and enjoys the different teams, and, at SJCA, she has been able to do that. She serves on student council as well. Both kids have had a chance to lead in different ways.”

Those leadership opportunities are just one of the components that make up the four pillars—faith, scholarship, leadership and service—that Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy stands on and that the Marshes feel have made a significant difference for their family.

“I like that the four pillars are something that are in front of the students all the time,” said Peggy. “I think that’s a great part of the SJCA experience. SJCA attends to the whole person, and that has been valuable for our children.”

Q&A with the Marsh Siblings

Q: What do you like most about attending Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy?

RJ: I like that the small class sizes foster a great learning environment.

Clare: I really like that SJCA is truly a community and that everyone here is so dedicated to making it the best place it can be.

Q: What does getting a Catholic education mean to you?

RJ: Being able to get a quality education while growing closer to God and learning about your faith.

Clare: For me, a Catholic education means that we are encouraged to talk about our faith and to grow in it every day.

Q: What activities do you participate in?

RJ: I play golf and basketball, and I am a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Clare: I am a school ambassador, a member of student council, and I am on the soccer, basketball, and track and field teams.

Q: What are your future aspirations?

RJ: Graduating college and starting a family. I would like to work in a field I enjoy and be successful while making great friendships and connections along the way.

Clare: After high school, I plan to go to college and then see where life takes me from there.

Q: What advice do you have for future Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy students?

RJ: Take advantage of all the opportunities SJCA has to offer. Make sure that, with all things you chose to do, you work hard and give them your best effort.

Clare: My advice for future SJCA students is to really make an effort to buy into the school community; it will make a huge impact on your experience here.

With PIAA competitions beginning this Friday (12/7), our winter sports teams are poised and ready to make some noise during the 2018-2019 season. You can follow our teams through the SJCA athletics social media outlets, and be sure to get out and watch them compete live! Keep reading for a preview of the upcoming season.

Boys Basketball

Coach Richard Ciambotti returns four starters and most of his varsity contributors from a District VI runner-up season in 2018. The significant loss is Captain Ethan Khoza from last year’s first PIAA State Playoff team. The Wolves will look to the senior leadership of RJ Marsh, Jack Mangene, Matt Steyers, Ryan Peachey, Jason Thomas, Zane Thornburg and newcomer Ben Macafee in their quest for another deep post-season run. Sophomores Cameron Khoza and Brendan Scanlon will also look to contribute to varsity success.

The boys will kick off their season this Friday at home against Bishop Guilfoyle. Junior varsity will start at 6:00 p.m. with varsity to follow. On Saturday, the boys will head to Saint John Neumann, looking to start off the season strong. Junior varsity starts at 1:oo p.m. with varsity to follow. Then, on Monday, the boys will be home again to compete against Bishop Carroll. The junior varsity game will be at 6:oo p.m. with varsity to follow. Good luck to the boys!

Key Competitions

Friday, December 7 vs. Bishop Guilfoyle (OLV vs. Park Forest prior)

Monday, December 10 vs. Bishop Carroll (District VI Champions)

Friday, December 21 vs. Belleville Mennonite (Alumni Night)

Friday and Saturday, December 28 and 29, Trinity Christmas Showcase

Girls Basketball

The Wolves return all starters in 2018, looking to springboard off of the program’s first District VI playoff berth into a season of promise. Coach Katie Sosnoskie will look to senior leaders Denaya Poston-Cooper and Selena Mann, joined by Michaela Maynard, to lead the team toward some postseason hardware. Coach Sosnoskie has a veteran team with plenty of playoff experience and some new faces to add to the mix. The team will look at a modified JV schedule to give all players valuable game minutes.

This Friday, the girl’s basketball team kicks off their season away at Jersey Shore, with the first JV game in program history starting at 6:00 p.m., with varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m. The following Tuesday, the girls will travel to West Branch. Let’s wish them luck as they begin their new season!

Coach Jackson and co. are returning a strong group with plenty of new faces this winter. Though the Wolves, like many teams, do not have an indoor track facility, our team continues to experience growth in both numbers and successes. Last year’s state qualifying girls distance medley relay team will be led by a strong senior group, including Sera Mazza, Julia Cusatis and Lindsey Carmack. Promising sprinters, hurdlers, throwers and jumpers will round out the squads this winter, looking to take the next step in development.

Key Competitions

Thursday, January 17, State College Invite #1 (Penn State)

Thursday, February 7, State College Invite #2 (Penn State)

Sunday, February 24, PTFCA State Championship (Penn State)

Wrestling

Junior Caleb Dowling will bring his experience as the state runner-up as a sophomore to this year’s talented team. Dowling is being looked at by some of the top collegiate programs in the country, and his teammates are on the recruiting trail right behind him. The Wolves have only eight wrestlers, but the room will be filled with talent from top to bottom. Lone senior Zach Rosenberger will look toward a district run, while newcomers Mike Lavalee, Tyler Stolzfus and Kolby Franklin will hope to make their mark on the team. Returning state qualifiers and district medalists Amonn Ohl and Zach Witmer, along with junior Keagan Rothrock, will round out the young, talented roster, starting off the season with a bang at the prestigious, nationally recognized Iron Man Tournament on opening weekend.

For many years, WPSU has produced the Our Town series, a project that highlights Pennsylvania’s unique and vibrant communities. This week, Our Town will cover Boalsburg, and Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy will be featured.

Each episode of Our Town is shown as a live pledge program. Several SJCA teachers–Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Mato, Mrs. Schneider, Mr. Walsh and Ms. Mallett–will be at WPSU to answer phones for donations during the live airing.

This week, local storytellers will tell their personal accounts of growing up and living in Boalsburg, share the town’s rich history with stories from the Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boal Museum, the Blacksmith Shop and Heritage Museum. The program will also give viewers an inside look at the area’s unique traditions and culture.

Tune in on December 6 at 8:00 pm to watch Our Town and participate in the live pledge program. You can also watch live at wpsu.org/live.

We will be previewing the winter sports season next week, so be sure to check that out as we gear up for the start of competitions on December 7! For now, please keep reading for important updates about Athletics.

Athlete Registration Forms Needed

Winter athletes who have not turned in the Athlete Registration Form should do so ASAP. These forms allow us to submit mandatory PIAA eligibility lists for each season. Please be sure to turn the forms in to the main office by Monday, December 3.

Message from the PAC

Did you know there is a way to get involved in SJCA athletics as a parent?

The Parent Athletic Committee is a fun, easy way for you to help your son or daughter’s team and all of the athletes at SJCA. This growing group of parents meets once a month, has members that represent each sport and is open to anyone who wants to participate. PAC organizes special events and volunteering opportunities and raises money for all of the athletic programs. If you are interested in participating in this group, please feel free to come to one of the meetings, which occur on the second Thursday of every month from 6:30-7:30pm (the next meeting is on December 13 in room 204).

Finally, if you have any questions about the PAC’s initiatives in support of our athletic programs, please email us at PAC@stjoeacad.org

Fall Sports Surveys

Please take a few minutes to provide us with some valuable feedback about this year’s fall sports season. These surveys are important to our improvement as an Athletic Department! Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses!